Ambassador Meyer to the Secretary of State.
St. Petersburg, June 29, 1905.
Sir: I have the honor to report that yesterday, at the reception of the diplomatic corps in the foreign office, Count Lamsdorff informed me that it was quite possible that M. Nelidoff would be unable to serve as first plenipotentiary on account of ill health, and that he had telegraphed to Paris in order to know definitely.
If it should prove impossible for the Russian ambassador to France to act, the Emperor will immediately appoint as his successor a man of equal importance. It was the intention of His Majesty to have Baron Rosen, the newly appointed ambassador to Washington, serve as the second plenipotentiary. The minister of foreign affairs then inquired whether there would be any objection in case the Emperor should desire a third plenipotentiary, and added that it was the intention to send several delegates as specialists on Eastern affairs.
[Page 815]I took this occasion to call Count Lamsdorffs attention again to the President’s desire, as instructed in cable of June 24 [23], that it should be stated by the Russian Government at the time of the appointment of their plenipotentiaries that they are named as plenipotentiaries to negotiate and conclude a treaty of peace with Japan, to which he agreed.
I now confirm cable informing the Department of the above, true reading of which will be found inclosed.
I have, etc.,